Deacon accused of sexual misconduct suspended from state job, keeps church post

A month after his arrest, the deacon of a Quail Street church accused of sexual misconduct with two boys he was mentoring has been suspended with pay from his job with the state, but remains at his post with the First Congregational Church.

Members of the church are still searching for an interim pastor after the previous minister, who initially contacted police, resigned in the wake of the charges.

John Dennehey was suspended as senior planner for the state’s Hudson River Valley Greenway, a riverfront environmental conservancy, on June 24 — the day the Times Union printed an article on his arrest.

Dennehey, 36, of 77 Grove Ave., turned himself in to Albany police on June 18 on charges he downloaded pornography and masturbated in front of two 13-year-old boys he was mentoring for their confirmation. The charges cited several occasions between June and November 2008 in Dennehey’s apartment and the church.

Mark Castiglione, the conservancy’s acting director, said Dennehey is suspended indefinitely “because of the severity of the charges.” Castiglione would not comment on the allegations.

Dennehey, who is paid $56,000 a year, has worked for the conservancy since 2003.

He pleaded not guilty at his June arraignment to two counts each of disseminating indecent material to minors, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.